Quotes from John Paul Lederach

We will find God present throughout the journey toward reconciliation in the depths of fear, in the hopelessness of dark nights, in the tears of reconnection.

From out of the community come the people and gifts necessary to initiate, support, help create, and sustain the understandings that are reached.

In conflict, before we even hear what the other side has said, we assume we know what they mean. We have already attached motives to their messages. Often, even before they have finished, we are developing our response.

Jesus' ministry had roots in grace expressed primarily through the quality of presence: the way he chose to be present, in relationship and in the company of others, even with those who wished him harm.

Reconciliation is understood as both a place we are trying to reach and the journey that we take up with each other.

the "cloud of witnesses" (Hebrews 12:1). Their dreaming did not predict the future according to the present. Instead, quite the opposite is true. They changed present reality by living according to a vision of the future. We are told that this is "faith

6. On the Gift of Pessimism: Insights from the Geographies

spacemoments of lived experience are continuously multidirectional.

Taking time apart. The first and perhaps most obvious examples are the occasions when Jesus explicitly pursued time apart. These came in the form of stepping back and away from the outward ministry and into a space of reflection, silence, and walking—being alone. We may envision these as the "times in the desert." What they point to, at essence, are spaces to reconnect with the deeper inner voice, that spirit of purpose and vocation, and time to breathe, pray, and reflect.